Edgar Perry Farnell, 82, of Mystic, CT passed away at the Westerly Hospital on Friday afternoon, September 24, 2004 after a brief illness.
He was the son of the late Noyes Palmer Farnell and Hope (Zeller) Farnell of Stonington. He was born on December 14, 1921 at home in the Palmer house on Dean’s Mill Road in Stonington.
He is survived by two daughters, Leatha Lathrop of Bedford, MA and Dara Karas of Pawcatuck; his brother, Noyes P. Farnell of Stonington; two granddaughters, Sandra Corn of North Stonington, Molly Connor of Bedford, MA and two great grandchildren, Amanda Butler and Kevin Corn, Jr. of N. Stonington, CT. A sister, Alice Post of Mystic, CT, predeceases him. He also leaves behind his longtime companion of 45 years, Velma Halfacre of Mystic, whom he met while serving in Iceland in October 1959. He is also survived by loving nieces, nephews and cousins.
A 1940 graduate of Stonington High School, he joined the Air Force on February 27, 1941 as an aviation Cadet. He completed a distinguished 22-year career as a U.S. Air Force Officer, retiring as a Colonel. During World War II he served overseas for several years as a bomber pilot and took part in 75 missions over northern Europe, including the invasion of Normandy on D-Day. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross after a bombing mission deep in France where his plane was riddled with more than 300 bullet holes, had only one engine, and he successfully brought it to a crash landing in England. He was credited with establishing the longest escape flight on record with a single engine in the Air Force’s history at the age of 22 years. During his career as a fighter pilot he received 14 medals many of them bronze stars. Air Force officials explained that five bronze clusters, awarded after presentation of the Air Medal are the equivalent of one silver cluster. The two silver clusters equal ten bronze clusters, the two oak leaf clusters bring a total of 12 and the remaining two are his Distinguished Flying Cross and his European theatre Decorations.
During the latter stages of his military career he was assigned to the Judge Advocate General Department (JAG) serving both overseas and U.S. Commands. As a result of this service, he was awarded the Legion of Merit, the Air Force’s highest peace time decoration.
He was a member of the Bar of the U.S. Supreme Court, Massachusetts Supreme Court, Louisiana Supreme Court, Massachusetts Federal District Court, First Circuit Federal District Court of Appeals in Louisiana and the U.S. Court of Military Appeals.
After his retirement from the military, he served as the Vice-President and Legal Counsel of Itek Corporation’s Electronic and Optical Industries from 1966 to 1986. Itek is an international firm with four product lines: graphics, defense electronics, optics and electro-optics and vision care.
He continued his legal counsel from his Mistuxet Avenue home during retirement. He loved the outdoors, his gardens, and his many boat trips to Sandy Point over the years. He was especially fond of his many cats and area wildlife. He was an avid golfer and enjoyed many hours playing with friends and family.
The family will greet relatives and friends on Wednesday, from 2-4 and 6-8pm at The Dinoto Funeral Home, 17 Pearl Street, Historic downtown Mystic. A funeral service will be held at the Funeral Home on Thursday at 11 am. Burial with military honors will follow at Elm Grove Cemetery.
Donations can be made to Northeast Animal Shelter, 204 Highland Avenue, Salem MA 01970.